Air sample collection apparatus and methods for use
AssigneeUniversity Corporation for Atmospheric Research
InventorElizabeth Asher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air sample collection apparatus and methods for operating the air sample collection apparatus are provided. The air sample apparatus comprises a plurality of air canisters comprising at least a first canister and a second canister, a multi-position valve comprising an outlet, and an inlet region, which are fluidly connected to a plurality of ports. Each respective port is fluidly connected to a canister of the plurality of air canisters, a pump operable to provide pressurized sample air to the inlet region of the multi-position valve, and a computing device operable to open and close each respective port fluidly coupled to each canister of the plurality of canisters.
Claims23
An air sample collection apparatus 300 comprising:
- a plurality of air canisters (102) comprising at least a first canister (104) and a second canister (106);
- a multi-position valve (108) comprising an outlet (112), and an inlet region (114) fluidly connected to a plurality of ports (116), each respective port fluidly connected to a canister of the plurality of air canisters (102);
- a pump (118) operable to provide pressurized sample air to the inlet region (114) of the multi-position valve (108);
- and
- a computing device (120) operable to open and close each respective port fluidly coupled to each canister (104, 106) of the plurality of canisters (102).
Method for collecting air samples using an air sample collection apparatus, the air sample collection apparatus comprising a plurality of air canisters including at least a first canister and a second canister, a multi-position valve comprising an outlet, and an inlet region fluidly connected to a plurality of ports, each respective port fluidly connected to a canister of the plurality of air canisters, a pump operable to provide pressurized sample air to the inlet region of the multi-position valve, and a computing device operable to open and close each respective port fluidly coupled to each canister of the plurality of canisters, the method comprising:
- operating the pump to provide pressurized sample air to the inlet region of the multi-position valve;
- opening a first respective port of the multi-position valve to the first canister;
- upon filling the first canister with the pressurized sample air, closing the first respective port of the multi-position valve to the first canister;
- opening a second respective port to the second canister;
- and
- upon filling the second canister with the pressurized sample air, closing the second respective port to the second canister.
Method for collecting air samples using an air sample collection apparatus positioned on an unmanned aerial system (UAS), the air sample collection apparatus comprising a plurality of air canisters (102) including at least a first canister and a second canister, a multi-position valve comprising an outlet, and an inlet region fluidly connected to a plurality of ports, each respective port fluidly connected to a canister of the plurality of air canisters (102), a pump operable to provide pressurized sample air to the inlet region of the multi-position valve, and a computing device operable to open and close each respective port fluidly coupled to each canister of the plurality of canisters, the method comprising:
- positioning the UAS at a first position;
- opening a first respective port of the multi-position valve to the first canister;
- upon filling the first canister with the pressurized sample air, closing the first respective port of the multi-position valve to the first canister;
- positioning the UAS at a second position;
- opening a second respective port to the second canister;
- and
- closing the second respective port to the second canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.